Closing its 21st year, the flagship LAU Simulation Models (LAUSM) celebrated success stories from the training sessions, mock conferences, and final conferences of the Model United Nations, Model Arab League, Model European Union, Model Good Governance programs, along with the Global Classrooms International Model UN conference held in New York City.

This year’s theme, Leadership in Motion, not only characterized the intense programs, but also the mindset that the delegates and the secretariat adopted as they navigated the challenges and prevailing circumstances throughout the academic year.  

To honor the delegates’ commitment and recognize their many achievements, the LAU Outreach, Leadership and Empowerment (OLE) hosted the LAUSM Closing and Awards Ceremony on June 14, 2026, on the Beirut campus, in the presence of LAU leaders, staff, student leaders and volunteers, school representatives, and families of the middle- and high-schoolers. The OLE houses the simulation models in addition to a variety of training programs, designed to offer structured leadership pathways for LAUers and the wider community.

LAU President Chaouki T. Abdallah spoke of the broader impact of the programs, stressing that leadership is not defined by titles but by responsibility and service. “At a time when Lebanon and the world face profound challenges, programs like the LAU Simulation Models are more important than ever. They remind us that leadership is about the willingness to serve others, seek solutions, and work toward the common good,” he said.

Dr. Abdallah also praised the unique culture of continuity that defines the LAUSM experience, where participants often progress from middle-school delegates to high-school leaders and eventually to LAU student volunteers as secretariat members. “That journey reflects that leadership is learned, practiced, and passed on from one generation to the next,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Project Director for Lebanon and Syria Kristof Kleemann reflected on the foundation’s partnership with LAU since 2020 and the enduring value of civic education.

“Democracy does not defend itself,” he said, drawing from the words of the German liberal thinker after whom his organization is named. “It is the people—the educated, the engaged, stubborn people—that defend it.”

He encouraged participants to recognize the significance of their commitment, especially in light of the difficult circumstances in Lebanon. “You had every reason to become cynical. Instead, you spent weekends learning parliamentary and democratic procedures, and that choice matters more than any resolution you may have drafted during this whole process,” he said.

Commending delegates for choosing engagement over passivity, LAU interim Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Management Raed Mohsen noted that “Leadership is an overused term, but you are making sense of it. Here, and in New York, you practiced it with softness, kindness, and assertiveness.”

He implored the young leaders not to be “passive observers,” and to seize every opportunity to be involved in shaping the country’s future. Dr. Mohsen also invited the high schoolers to apply to LAU so that “we can continue our contribution to your growth, and so that you can continue to build your creativity through our programs.”

Speaking on behalf of the 230 members of the student leadership team, LAUSM Secretary-General Lea Farhat traced her own professional growth through the programs, which culminated in her decision to pursue graduate studies in International Affairs at LAU.

She encouraged delegates to embrace leadership as “an ongoing responsibility that is always in motion.”

Deputy Secretary-General Hadi Chehade echoed those sentiments, highlighting the resilience and dedication of the student organizers. “We have managed to raise the bar regardless of all the circumstances and create a successful environment for students to thrive, all while making memories that last a lifetime,” he said.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Rising Star Awards, given in memory of two beloved LAU student leaders, the late PharmD student Nour Chidiac and the late architecture major Cindy Najem, whose contributions left a lasting impact on the LAUSM community. The awards recognize delegates who demonstrate exceptional potential, dedication, and commitment to uplifting others. This year’s recipients, Alida Roukouz and Francesca Nour Iris Perini, each received a 20 percent scholarship to LAU.

Other accolades included the Secretary General Awards and the Diplomacy Awards —whose recipients benefit from 30 and 15 percent scholarships respectively—as well as the Best Position Paper Award. The event also featured numerous recognitions for participating schools, which this year totalled 238 from across the country.